Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a field of 15 runners for the $250,000 Newcastle Gold Cup with 12 geldings, two stallions and only one mare. Six runners had their last start in the Wyong Cup over 2100m on 3 September and four had their last start in the Premiers Cup over 2000m at the Rosehill at Kembla Grange meeting on 28 August. Chris Waller has four runners and the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott team have two. The early favourite is four-year-old  Luncies who has won five of his 10 starts. Second favouritism is shared between Berdibek who has won the Rowley Mile and the Wyong Cup at his last two runs, and Harpo Marx who has also won his last two starts including the Group 3 Premiers Cup at the Rosehill at Kembla Grange meeting on 28 August.

Criminal Code ran 2nd in the Wyong Cup last outing.  Quick Thinker finished 1.5 length 5th in the Premiers Cup. Dashing Willoughby resumed for 9th in the Wyong Cup and will be fitter for that run. No Compromise finished 1.6 lengths 6th in the Premiers Cup, while Laure Me In finished 4 lengths 5th in the Wyong Cup.  All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

1. Dashing Willoughby

One of four runners for Chris Waller. This five-year-old Nathaniel gelding finished 21st in the 2020 Melbourne Cup. He resumed for 9th in the Listed Wyong Cup and will be fitter for that run.

2. Quick Thinker

This five-year-old So You Think stallion has five wins and four places from 21 starts. He resumed from an 11 week break to finish last in the Rowley Mile after being inconvenienced at the home turn, then showed good improvement to finish 1.5 length 5th in the Group 3 Premiers Cup at the Rosehill at Kembla Grange meeting on 28 August. Not the worst.

3. Berdibek

Trained by John O’Shea,this seven-year-old Dark Angel gelding is going really well at the moment. He has won the Rowley Mile and the Wyong Cup at his last two runs and is one of the main players here.

4. Taikomochi

One of two runners for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, this eight-year-old Snitzel gelding has drawn the outside barrier. Has had two runs since resuming from a 47 week spell with 8th in the Wyong Cup and 13th in the Rowley Mile. Looking elsewhere.

5. Laure Me In

A seven-year-old gelding trained by Matthew Dunn at Murwillumbah. Won the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Kembla Grange on 14 August then finished 4 lengths 5th in the Wyong Cup. Has won at his only previous outing to this track, and could place.

6. Harpo Marx

This Galileo gelding trained by Bjorn Baker has won three of his last four starts including the Group 3 Premiers Cup at the Rosehill at Kembla Grange meeting on 28 August. Well-placed here and should fight out the finish.

7. Hush Writer

Hasn’t started since running  last in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup in May, but has had several lead-in trials. He won this race in 2019 and was runner-up behind Mugatoo last year. Don’t dismiss.

8. Sweet Thomas

At nine years this Dylan Thomas gelding is the oldest runner in the field this year. He is a genuine stayer and won the Stayers Cup over 3200m at Rosehill on 26 June before 0.5 length 2nd over 2800m at Flemington on 17 July. At his latest start he finished 4.2 lengths 6th in the Wyong Cup where he was never really clear and should have finished much closer. A rough chance.

9. Criminal Code

This five-year-old gelding from the Waller stable ran 2nd in the Wyong Cup last outing.

10. No Compromise

Another Waller runner, ths five-year-old Pins gelding finished 1.6 lengths 6th in the Premiers Cup. Wo over 2400m at Randwick at the start prior.

11. Luncies

youngest runner has won five of his 10 starts

12. Great House

Coming soon

13. Torrens

Coming soon

14. Master Shuhood

Coming soon

15. Oakfield Missile

only mare

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
6 Harpo Marx
3 Berdibek
9 Criminal Code
8 Sweet Thomas

The track was rated as Soft 5.

Scratchings; !4. Master Shuhood.

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	12. Great House
2nd	2, Quick Thinker	0.37 length
3rd	10. No Compromise	1.11 lengths
4th	11, Luncies	1.94 lengths